Worth it to try to install old hard drive into new computer?

Question

My old computer died (RIP) and I just got my new one.  There is a possibility that my old hard drive failed, but I want to know if it would be worth it to try installing it on the new computer to see if I can recover any of the old files?  If it is worth a shot, what should I be aware of?

Pertinent issues:  

old hard drive was the primary drive on the old computer.  I would not want it to be primary drive on the new one, obviously.

Both computers have windows xp operating systems.  Does that help or hurt?

Any way to install the drive externally or it would have to be internal (the old drive was internal)

would I need any special tools or cables or anything to do the installation?

Would installing the old drive invalidate any warranties on my new computer (Dell)

Is there any easier way to do what I want without installing the old drive, keeping in mind my old computer doesn't boot anymore?

Thanks for your thoughts.  Happy New Year!

G · Accepted Answer

<Pauses in a moment of silence for your old computer>

Both computers having XP neither helps nor hurts. The type of file system on hard drives is not necessarily dependent on the OS.

There's probably a way to hook up an internal drive externally, but it's easier to just to plug it into the inside of the computer as it was intended to be used.

No special tools or cables should be needed. Just open your computer and find the ribbon cable your good HD is connected to. There should be another plastic connector on the same cable you can plug your old HD into. There should also be another power connector as well. You may need to set the little plastic jumper on the old hard drive to slave and the jumper on the new drive to master. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers.

Plugging in another HD to your dell should not invalidate any warranties. The only time to worry about something like that is if you were to physically open the hard drive itself. Usually there's a sticker to warn you that your warranty will go poof.

Installing another internal HD is pretty easy. If you still feel that it is too much for you, you can always take the HD to a comp store and have them retreive the data, for a fee of course.

Good luck!

Christian Soldier · Answer

You just have to install as slave on a dual ide ribbon in the middle connection. Check the jumper and possibly the bios. You can remove any data, pictures, etc provided you did NOT have a password on the old drive. After this you should clean it up by going to (right click on my computer) manage, disk management. Remove then add a new partition then format it. You can have a separate program files and double the page file by having 2 drives.

maginoodle · Answer

set the jumper on the old drive to slave.
put it in the new comp while it is turned off.
when you turn the comp back on if the old drive is still working you will be given a choice of os to boot with, select os1
once booted up you will be able to transfer from your secondary drive to your new drive.
You may not be able to leave your old drive in the dell as they have special mouints but you will be able to sit it in there temporarialy.

ego · Answer

in the journey that your motherboard got here with a CD, then set up the drivers at the same time as the force remains interior the previous pc. as quickly because of the fact the set up is done, close it down and circulate the force to the recent pc. That way, the 1st time you start up each and all the drivers would be there and homestead windows can get to setting up each and all the recent hardware. you may nonetheless XP deactivate on you because of the fact of all the hardware differences. it quite is going to think of you're attempting to place in it on one greater pc.

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Worth it to try to install old hard drive into new computer?

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